Orange SWAT chief stars in new reality show Monday night

Tom Stroup's first shot at reality television didn't hit the Nielsen target. "School Pride" was a ratings misfire on NBC in fall 2010.

The SWAT commander with Orange County Sheriff's Office should come closer to the bull's-eye with "Stars Earn Stripes," which NBC promoted relentlessly during the Olympics.

The reality series pairs a celebrity with a trainer from law enforcement or the military; the teams complete in grueling missions each week with weapons. "Stars Earn Stripes" debuts at 8 Monday night.

Not that ratings matter to Stroup, who is strikingly fit at 55. He has chosen his projects carefully.

"I don't want to be on TV just to be on TV," he told the Orlando Sentinel last week."I want to be involved in something good, something that sheds light on law enforcement in a positive way.

"You see a soldier in the airport and people applaud. I want that same reaction for police officers. It's our duty as police officers to effect that change in the public."

Stroup, who has been with the Sheriff's Office 30 years, hopes to do his part to create thatchange by performing as a special operative and guiding a celebrity on "Stars Earn Stripes."

Each week Stroup and his partner will play against seven other operative-celebrity teams and earn money for military, veterans or first-responder charities. Stroup is playing for the Badge of Honor Memorial Foundation, which assists survivors of officers killed in the line of duty.

A "Stars Earn Stripes" team receives $10,000 each week it stays in the contest, and the grand-prize winner collects an additional $100,000, all for charity.

"My celebrity was in exceptional shape," he said. "But they had zero firearms experience."

Still, Stroup is not complaining. "They learned fast. They did well," he said. "They never said no."

The other special operatives include Brent Gleeson, a former Navy SEAL; Chris Kyle, a former Navy SEAL sniper and author of "American Sniper"; and Grady Powell, a former Army Green Beret.

In each episode, retired Gen. Wesley Clark gives the mission goal and explains which weapons will be used. After each mission, the teams return to learn their scores. The two lowest-scoring celebrities have a shootout; the loser and his or her trainer leave the show.

"Tom is outstanding," Burnett said in an email. "Being a SWAT commander who works every day in the urban environment of a city in close proximity to citizens, while conducting dangerous SWAT operations, requires nerves of steel and thoughtfulness. Tom is a hero, and we saw this every day on 'Stars Earn Stripes.' I am proud to know him."

Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings echoed that sentiment, saying Stroup has served admirably and is well-regarded at the Sheriff's Office.

"He serves as the full-time SWAT team commander and is responsible for saving numerous lives during his career," Demings said. "Tom has my full support in his TV career, and the entire agency is extremely proud of the honor he brings to us. Capt. Stroup will no doubt well represent all of law enforcement on the show."

Stroup praised the producers, who include "Law & Order" creator Dick Wolf, for enlisting consultants who made sure the missions looked authentic.

"This won't seem like a reality show," Stroup said. "This will seem like either a training video or a documentary."

The show was a learning experience for Stroup, who hadn't shot any of the weapons he fired on the program. The series also should be a showcase for Stroup, who is 6 feet, 185 pounds and chiseled. He has starred in two exercise videos, and a third is on the way.

When "School Pride" debuted two years ago, executive producer Cheryl Hines raved about his look. "He's easy on the eyes. Have you seen the guns on him? Come on," she said, referring to his muscular arms.

But that's just part of the story about Stroup, personal trainer Blake McEntyre says of his friend.

"Tom Stroup is the toughest guy I know," he said. "He's been dedicated to fitness and helping others and making our community a better place."

Stroup's time on "School Pride" made a deep impression. While painting an inner-city school in Detroit, he heard a student praise the school for teaching him that he had an obligation to help others.

"Life's short," Stroup said. "It's not going to matter how famous or rich any of us are. It's going to matter what good we did. I really believe that. What you do for other people is going to matter more than what you do for yourself."